“Taghoot” or “Taghut” is derived from the verb “taghaa” (to transgress), and it means everything that has crossed or transgressed its limit, devil, evil and false deities/gods.

There is no compulsion in religion. Verily, the Right Path has become distinct from the wrong path. Whoever disbelieves in Taghut [false deities, evil, devil] and believes in Allah, then he has grasped the most trustworthy handhold that will never break. And Allah is All-Hearer, All-Knower. [Ch.2:256]

Allah is the Wali (Protector or Guardian) of those who believe. He brings them out from darkness into light. But as for those who disbelieve, their Auliya (supporters and helpers) are Taghut [false deities and false leaders, etc.], they bring them out from light into darkness. Those are the dwellers of the Fire, and they will abide therein forever. [Ch.2:257]‘Worship Allah alone and avoid the Taghoots (false deities)” [Ch.16:36]Very first step towards Emaan is rejecting and disbelieving in Taghoots, which include all personalities, leaders, deities or evil things worshipped besides Allah, while being pleased with this worship. This means removing every (false) god that is worshipped besides Allah, such as a tree, a stone, the sun, the moon, an angel, a human, a grave, a dead saint, book and so on and so forth. These things have no right to be worshipped, because they do not have any command over the affairs of the universe.

If you read Quran you will find a name which Allah has given us in various verses. We should not call ourselves with different names.

It is He (Allah) Who has named you Muslims both before and in this (the Quran) [Ch.22:78]

O you have believed, be pious to Allah with His true piety, and definitely do not die except as Muslims.[Ch.3:102]

Say (O Muhammad SAW): "O people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians): Come to a word that is just between us and you, that we worship none but Allah, and that we associate no partners with Him, and that none of us shall take others as lords besides Allah. Then, if they turn away, say: "Bear witness that we are Muslims."

Ibrahim (Abraham) was neither a Jew nor a Christian, but he was a true Muslim Hanifa (Islamic Monotheism - to worship none but Allah Alone) and he was not of Al-Mushrikun.[Ch.3:67](Ibrahim A.S's deen was called Deen-e-Hanif the early face of Islam, Do not consider him a Hanifi Muslim coz, Imam Abu Hanifa R.A was not born when Quran was revealed).

And who is fairer in speech than he who calls to Allah, and does righteousness, and says, "Surely I (myself ) am one of the Muslims"? (i.e., those who surrender (to Allah) [CH.41:33]

What is Sect? Sect means a subdivision and What is Sects in Islam? Various subdivisions in Islam.First of all I would like to tell you the order of Allah Subhanawata'la in Quran Surah An'am 6, Verse No.159

Verily, those who divide their religion and break up into sects (all kinds of religious sects), you (O Muhammad SAW) have no concern in them in the least. Their affair is only with Allah, Who then will tell them what they used to do.

Means those who are divided into subdivisions of Islam Or into sects of Islam he has nothing to do with Prophet PBUH. And a person who is nothing to do with Prophet PBUH where he will go you better know. But mostly sects of Islam says if you are Kalma-go Muslim means if you have already given shahada (witness) "There is no God but Allah and Prophet Muhammad SAWW is his messenger" will definitely go to Jannah. On the contrary Allah says in Quran surah Yusuf ch. 10 verse no. 116.

And most of them believe in Allah except (as) they are associators (of other gods with Him)

We will say them a Kalma-go mushrik because they have other associator of Allah too.

Usually, people blindly follow sects in our society because they see their elders and forefather doing the same. The majority of people in our society simply follow the Deen of their forefathers just like the people of Makkah did 1449+ year ago. Different group of Muslims kept different names and titles other than Muslim because that is what they are taught to do.

Allah is NOT Noor, rather, Noor is a creation of Allah. The Quran states that Allah is an ineffable reality and we human cannot produce an adequate fable; therefore, there is no example of what Allah is like. We also know that angels are made of light. Hence, the Creator (Allah) and the creation (light) cannot be one and the same. We know that Allah can watch, hear and listen but how it happens we don't know. He has two hands and shin but how do they look like we don't know. If Allah is not Noor, then what is the guiding light that is frequently mentioned in the Quran? Here are some proofs from the Quran itself (we don’t need to go into hadith)

All praises and thanks be to Allah, Who (Alone) created the heavens and the earth, and originated the darkness and the light, yet those who disbelieve hold others as equal with their Lord. [Ch.6:1]﻿

Allah is the Wali (Protector or Guardian) of those who believe. He brings them out from darkness into light. But as for those who disbelieve, their Auliya (supporters and helpers) are Taghut [false deities and false leaders, etc.], they bring them out from light into darkness. Those are the dwellers of the Fire, and they will abide therein forever. [Ch.2:257]Verily, We did send down the Taurat (Torah) [to Musa (Moses)], therein was guidance and light. [Ch.5:44]

and We gave him the Injeel (Gospel), in which was guidance and light and confirmation of the Taurat (Torah) that had come before it [Ch.5:46]

And thus We have sent to you (O Muhammad SAW) Ruhan (an Inspiration, and a Mercy) of Our Command. You knew not what is the Book, nor what is Faith? But We have made it (this Quran) a light wherewith We guide whosoever of Our slaves We will. And verily, you (O Muhammad SAW) are indeed guiding (mankind) to the Straight Path (i.e. Allah's religion of Islamic Monotheism). [Ch.42:52]

Author

Assalam o Alaikum Warahmatullah. I am your Muslim brother. When I was kid we used to study in school that we are only Muslim but when I grow up I saw so many sects in Islam and confused who to follow then I started research through Quran and Sahi Hadiths, just like you take an admission in college or university but when exams are near you open your course book and study by yourself. I know its hard to change someone's faith but if one's faith is not according to Quran and Sunnah its useless.